Ace Frehley, the legendary founding guitarist of KISS, has died at the age of 74 after reportedly suffering a brain bleed following a recent fall at his studio.
“We are completely devastated and heartbroken,” Frehley’s family said in a statement. “In his last moments, we were fortunate enough to have been able to surround him with loving, caring, peaceful words, thoughts, prayers and intentions as he left this earth. We cherish all of his finest memories, his laughter, and celebrate his strengths and kindness that he bestowed upon others. The magnitude of his passing is of epic proportions, and beyond comprehension. Reflecting on all of his incredible life achievements, Ace’s memory will continue to live on forever!”
The rock icon had canceled all his remaining tour dates earlier this month, although the severity of his health condition wasn’t disclosed at the time. As it turns out, the fall turned out to be fatal, as he succumbed to his injuries on October 16th.
Born Paul Daniel Frehley on April 27th, 1951 in the Bronx, he played in a handful of local bands before auditioning for Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, and Peter Criss in late 1972 as lead guitarist for the band that would become KISS.
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Frehley adopted the persona of “Space Ace” (later “The Spaceman”) as a member of KISS, who released their self-titled debut album in 1974 (featuring the Frehley-penned “Cold Gin”). He remained with the band until 1982, appearing on such classic albums as Dressed to Kill, Destroyer, Rock and Roll Over, and others, as well as their legendary live album Alive!
The guitarist arguably had the best of the four KISS “solo” albums that were released on the same day in 1978, with his LP containing his classic cover of Hello’s “New York Groove.”
Frehley was replaced by Vinnie Vincent in KISS for 1982’s Creatures of the Night, although he was originally credited on the album. He embarked on a solo career under his own name and as Frehley’s Comet, releasing a number of albums through 2024’s 10,000 Volts, and had been working on a new collection of cover songs, Origins Vol. 3.
In 1996, Frehley rejoined KISS for a reunion tour, and contributed to a few tracks on the 1998 album Psycho Circus. After the band’s then-farewell tour wrapped up in late 2001 and following a performance at the 2002 Winter Olympics, Frehley left KISS again, this time for good, only reuniting with the band one time for a few songs on the KISS Kruise in October 2018.
Despite expressing interest in rejoining KISS on their most recent farewell tour, which wrapped up in December 2023, he never shared the stage with the band at any of the shows, including the final concert at Madison Square Garden.
In an interview with The Aquarian earlier this year, Frehley said of his legacy, “I think it’s going to live on for hundreds of years. I do what I do very well, and I have the respect of my peers.”
Frehley’s influence on rock music is immeasurable, with many notable musicians crediting him as the reason they picked up a guitar in the first place. He was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame with KISS in 2014.